An acoustical transformer having a last matching section that includes a protective barrier of low permeability. The protective barrier is in contact with a test medium. In one embodiment, the protective barrier comprises one or more low permeability layers, such as a metallic foil or metallic coating(s) disposed on a low impedance layer such as polyimide, so that the low impedance layer and the protective barrier constitute the last matching section of the acoustical transformer. In other embodiments, the protective barrier comprises a fluoropolymer. A method for determining the thicknesses of the various layers of the acoustical transformer for enhanced performance is also disclosed.

An acoustical transformer having a last matching section that includes a protective barrier of low permeability. The protective barrier is in contact with a test medium. In one embodiment, the protective barrier comprises one or more low permeability layers, such as a metallic foil or metallic coating(s) disposed on a low impedance layer such as polyimide, so that the low impedance layer and the protective barrier constitute the last matching section of the acoustical transformer. In other embodiments, the protective barrier comprises a fluoropolymer. A method for determining the thicknesses of the various layers of the acoustical transformer for enhanced performance is also disclosed.

An acoustic matching material supply device includes a frame portion that may be attachable to an ultrasonic probe that includes an ultrasonic sensor surface. The frame portion ejects an acoustic matching material. The frame portion includes an inner peripheral surface, an ejection port, an introduction port, and a flow passage. The ejection port is provided on the inner peripheral surface or in a region including the inner peripheral surface, and ejects the acoustic matching material. The introduction port receives the acoustic matching material from a device external of the frame portion. The flow passage extends between the ejection port and the introduction port, and the ejection port and the introduction port communicate with each other via the flow passage.

A dual frequency ultrasound transducer includes a high frequency ultrasound array and a low frequency transducer positioned behind or proximal to the high frequency ultrasound array. In one embodiment, a dampening material is positioned between a rear surface of the high frequency array and the a front surface of the low frequency array. The dampening preferably is high absorbing of signals at the frequency of the high frequency array but passes signals at the frequency of the low frequency transducer with little attenuation. In additional, or alternatively, the low frequency can angled with respect to the plane of the high frequency transducer to reduce inter-stack multipath reflections. Beamforming delays compensate for the differences in physical distances between the elements of the low frequency transducer and the plane of the high frequency transducer.

A cover unit includes: a body to which an ultrasound generator adapted to generate ultrasound is coupled; first slits disposed at a lower portion of the body in the form of multiple rings having different radii and spaced apart from each other, the first slits having a first width; second slits depressed from an upper surface of the body to communicate with the first slits and having a second width smaller than the first width; third slits depressed from the upper surface of the body and each disposed between adjacent second slits, the third slits having a third width smaller than the first width; a bottom formed under the first slits; a first sidewall formed between adjacent first slits; and a second sidewall formed between the second slit and the third slit.

An acoustic matching layer is formed on individual ultrasonic transducer elements on a base. Electric conductors are arranged between adjacent ultrasonic transducer elements, the electric conductors being connected to electrodes of the ultrasonic transducer elements. Protective films overlap the electric conductors. The protective films have smaller moisture permeability than the acoustic matching layer. Wall portions are arranged on the protective films, the wall portions separating portions of the acoustic matching layer that are respectively located on adjacent ultrasonic transducer elements from each other at least in a part of a height range with respect to a height direction from the base, and having an acoustic impedance that is different from the acoustic impedance of the acoustic matching layer.

An acoustic matching layer is formed on individual ultrasonic transducer elements on a base. Electric conductors are arranged between adjacent ultrasonic transducer elements, the electric conductors being connected to electrodes of the ultrasonic transducer elements. Protective films overlap the electric conductors. The protective films have smaller moisture permeability than the acoustic matching layer. Wall portions are arranged on the protective films, the wall portions separating portions of the acoustic matching layer that are respectively located on adjacent ultrasonic transducer elements from each other at least in a part of a height range with respect to a height direction from the base, and having an acoustic impedance that is different from the acoustic impedance of the acoustic matching layer.

Embodiments are generally directed to a sound-dampening light fixture. In one embodiment, the sound-dampening light fixture includes the following: a structural center portion that includes a housing for a light source, and at least one interconnecting ring that includes connection points for connecting panels to the interconnecting ring. The sound-dampening light fixture also includes panels arranged circumferentially around the structural center portion. The panels are connected to the interconnecting ring at the connection points. The panels are arranged at angles that are designed to dampen sound waves, and are constructed from material that further dampens sound waves coming into contact therewith.

A sonic device in an embodiment includes a sonic transducer unit and a sonic propagation unit. The sonic transducer unit performs at least one of transmitting and receiving a sonic wave, and has a sonic function surface to configure at least one of a wave transmitting surface and a wave receiving surface. The sonic propagation unit includes: a substrate having a pair of electrodes; an electroadhesive element expressing body including a resin crosslinked body arranged on the substrate, and particles dispersed in the resin crosslinked body; and a power supply to apply voltage to the pair of electrodes. The sonic propagation unit is provided on the sonic function surface of the sonic transducer unit, and the electroadhesive element expressing body in the sonic propagation unit comes into contact with a test object.

The present invention provides a resin composition for an acoustic matching layer which maintains uniform dispersibility of a hollow filler, can suppress bubble trapping, and is excellent in moldability and handleability. The resin composition for an acoustic matching layer, comprises a resin, a hollow filler, and a thixotropy imparting agent, wherein the resin composition has a viscosity measured using a B-type viscometer with rotor No. 4 at a rotation speed of 0.3 rpm at 25° C. of 1130 to 4000 Pa.Math.s, and has a thixotropy index expressed by the ratio (V1/V2) between a viscosity (V1) measured using a B-type viscometer with rotor No. 4 at a rotation speed of 0.3 rpm and a viscosity (V2) measured using a B-type viscometer with rotor No. 4 at a rotation speed of 1.5 rpm, at 50° C., of 3.0 to 5.0.